Them vs. them vs. the rest of us

Original: May 3, 2007
================

Democrats and Republicans alike piss me off. Basically politicians in general. Few among them maintain the internal fortitude to both say and do what is right once they don the mantle of elected official. Of course, as with all groups of people as large as that of our body of lawmakers and leaders, there is a spectrum.

In my mind, on one side of the spectrum are men like Fred Thompson, the one time senator from Tennessee and current purveyor of Law and Order in the land of make-believe. (Just for fun, let's call this the Right side of the spectrum.)

On the other side (This is the Left side now.) are men (and women) like Harry Reid, our current Senate Majority Leader.

Somewhere in the middle are men like John McCain. He is a man about whom I am torn. As a former Marine and prisoner of war, I see him as a hero. (That's not a knee-jerk reaction – Murtha's an idiot.) When he needed to be, he was a good and courageous warrior. On the other hand, he's been in Washington a long time. Over the years he's said and done some things that, to my not so much educated and politically unsavvy mind, seem to be bad for our country.

On to the reason for writing today: He said sometime good, something very important. On Tuesday, McCain spoke at the Hoover Institution. Quite honestly, I didn't pay much attention to his prepared speech. It was what he said in a press conference after the speech that caught my attention as being courageous. He said "I would much rather lose a campaign than lose a war." For someone seriously trying to become our Nation's next president, saying that in public takes balls.

Now, whether he falls to the Right, Left or Middle in your own interpretation of the spectrum, those I have put on the Left are undoubtedly giddy at McCain's remark. On numerous occasions they have made it very clear they would much rather lose the war we are currently engaged in if it means they can win an election. They are willing to sacrifice our security for the chance to wield more power over you and me.

He still won't get my vote – I still hoping Thompson will officially make the plunge – but I applaud his courage in at least saying what is right.